Vending-machine.



. J. RATHGEB, JR.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1918.

4 $HEETS-SHEET 1- Ja BY WITNESS ATTORNEY ms mmms PEYERS v.1. .qc'milrna, wasnmcmn. n.

J. J. RATHGEB, .ln.

VtNDlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

1,272,096, Patented July 9,1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR I WI N ATTO R N EY 1.1. RATHGEB, JR.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

1 372,096. I Patented July 9, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESS fifQ k ATTORNEY ms uonms nsrsns co Pnamurnm WASHINGTON. n c.

1.]. RATHGEB,JR.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 22, 1917 Patented July 9, 1918. 4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

5 L/w /zjwm WlTNES S ATTORN EY m: Ncw s Luv-w worn-umawasnmcmmn. c.

. JOSEPHJIOHN IRA-THGEIB, an, or new YORK, N. Y.

VENDING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern: 7 v

Be it known that I, J OSEPH J OHN Barri- GEB, J r., a-citizen-of the UnitedStates, residingat New York, in the county 'of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vending- Machines, of which the following is a specification. 7

The invention relates to vending machines and has forv one of its objects the provision of such a machine having a coin operated gear train which drives step by step a vend-- ing wheel to each spoke of which is pivoted a carrier or 1-eceptacle,' said receptacles emptying successively into a delivery; chute.

Another object of-the invention isto provide a vending machine which-will-automatically, after the last receptacle has been emptied, close the coin-slot to prevent further use until the machine is refilled.

Another object of-the invention is to provide a fool proof machine which is of-simple and practical construction andwithout complicated parts. e

"With these an-d-other'objects in'view as will become more apparent as the descrip tion proceeds, the invention consists in cer-' tain novel features of construction, combina tion and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view with the casing partly broken away to disclose the internal mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine.

with the near casing wall removed.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation on the plane of line 4-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing the slot closure plate in operative position, and the parts immediately associated therewith.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the coin carrier and entrance slot.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view through the delivery chute showing the break in the track and the position of the carriers adjacent thereto, and

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a part to be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates as an entiretythe casing of the vending machine, which casing I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1 918.

Applicationfiled Ma ea 1917. SerialNo. 170,296.

may be of any considerable size in construction, having atop 2', front wall 3, rear wall 1*, andside walls 5,6. J ournaled vertically withinthiscasing is a main shaft or axle 7 to which is fixed a vending wheel generally designated 8 and comprising a hub 9, spokes -10 a nd rim 11. The hub is fixed to the shaft 7 and the spokes are-threaded into the periphery of the hub as shown. Each spoke extends acrossa horizontal track 12 concentrio with the shaft 7 and having a break 13 o'vera discharge or delivery chute lc. The terminal 15 of the track stops at one side of thechute and theterminal 16 stops at the other side ofthe chute. The portion of the track adjacent the end 16 is inclineddownwardly toward the chute and the terminal lG is beveled as-shown. The track is suitably supported on columns 17 and secured in positionthereon by screws 18' which extend through the tubular columns and through the track.

To each of the spokes 10 is pivoted a carrier or receptacle 19 whichis held in a substantiallyhorizontal position bythe track to contain merchandise to be vended. The receptacles may be made of'any suitable con- "struction but are preferably formed as shown from a flat plate having one longitudinal edge portion turned to provide a sleeve for the spoke and the other edge portion bent to form a retaining flange. As the receptacles are successively alined with the break 13, they swing by gravity downwardly into a vertical position to discharge their load and on further rotation of the vending wheel are brought into engagement with the inclined terminal face 16 and gradually returned to their normal position.

The wheel is preferably driven by a train of three spur gears. 20 is fixed to the shaft 7 adjacent the lower end thereof and meshes with an intermediate gear 21 held in position by a shaft 22. The gear 21 meshes with an outer gear 23 on a shaft 2 1. The shafts are secured to a gear plate 25 and are encircled by ball bearings 26 which support the gears.

The front Wall 3 of the casing is formed with a vertical entrance slot 27 and a coin carrying bar or block 28 is provided for cooperation with the slot 27 to receive the coin when it moves into the casing. The carrier is formed with a slot 29 in its upper face which is adapted for alinement with The inner most gear the slot 27. The slot 29 has an inclined portion 30 which opens into the vertical portion 31 which extends entirely through'the block and opens upon the inner side thereof.

A rack bar 32 is fixed to one end of the carrier, extends longitudinally therefrom,

and is engaged by a gear 33 mounted on a' shaft 34: having a turninghandle 35 rotated externally of the casing. By turning the handle to the left, the coin carrier w1ll be operated to cause a coin 36 to rotate the gear23. A sufficient rotation of the handlereturn the carrier to its normal position when released. If a coin of less than the proper diameter is inserted. into the en trance slot, it will not operate the machine, but will bereturnedtothe user through the slot 40 in the plate 25.; A coin of the proper size will, when inserted in the entrance slot, roll down the incline 30 into engagement with the periphery of the gear wheel when the carrier is advanced.

To obstruct the coin passage when all of the receptacles have been emptied, I provide a closure plate 41 which is pivoted at one cornerfas at 42 to a suitable support 43. This plate is swung in a horizontal plane over the coin slot in the carrier 28 by, an arm 44- secured to the rim. 11 of the vending wheel. 7 A spring pressed dog 45 engages the and. that it is only What I claim is connection with the accompanying draw ings, it will be evident that I have provided a very simple and practical vending machine having a vending wheel to the spokes of which are pivotally attached, carriersor receptacles which are moved by the wheel around a circular track, the track having a break which, causes the; receptacles to swing downwardly and empty. It will also be noted that the geartrain is coin actuated responsive to a coin of the proper diameter. WVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be clearly understood that I do not wish tobe-limited to this construction, but I may make such changes as will fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

I In a vending machine, a block mounted for movement and havinga slot adapted'to partially receivea check, means for moving the block, a closureflmovably mounted adjacent the block, and means including an arm adapted to be operated step by step by the check when the blockis moved to, advance the arm toward the closure and finally bring the arm in engagementwith the closure and move the same over the slot in the block.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature. JOSEPH JOHN RATHGEB,VJR.

Copies'iof this patent may he obtained for five ccnts each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents- Washington, D. Q 

